Poppies, Rain, and Hail

When Mike and I are ready to rent the white house, this will be the picture I use to advertise!  I recall a visit home and Dad's orange poppies in full bloom out by the mail box.  Always hoping for a patch of poppies, another bonus feature to our newly acquired property has presented itself!  

This week has been punctuated with black, ominous thunderstorms building up around 11am and looming overhead.  Rain and hail pour out of these angry clouds.  The hail has pummeled some places, covering the ground in white marbles.  So far, our new tender alfalfa plants have been spared. 

A tour of my Hoback garden after yesterday's morning rain storm and then shining sunlight.  You could almost hear the plants growing!  Clearly, I like poppies!!  It is a beautiful summer this year! 

A Full Saturday

National Cattledog Championship, Afton, Wyoming.

Afternoon of work on the old white house.

Alfalfa coming up through ground graced with .9 inch of rain in last night's storm.

Friends June, Clara, Coralia, and Mike.

This month's picture of the new place. 

It was a good day.

 

 

 

This month's picture of the new place.

 

 

 

 

 

And if the Weather Isn't Enough.....

Check this out!

Will Yellowstone Blow?

More Weather

The national weather map shows hot weather over the southwest.  Here in the mountains, the trees flap around in stormy weather, the air humid and cool.  Today's weather should offer the best kind of irrigation of all - rains from the heavens!  Bring it on!  

This picture taken this morning on Kathy McFarland's way south from Moran to her work in Grand Teton National Park.  Beautifully ominous morning scene!  

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Jackson, Wyoming sits right in the Path of Totality for the epic 2017 Eclipse event.  On Monday, August 21, 2017, the sun will be in total eclipse, a once-in-a-lifetime event for most.  Our tiny town is expected to overflow with the event.  Rumors of 40K, 400K, and today, I hear "one million" extra people are guessed to arrive here.  How can one even begin to guess?  We have been planning for over a year for the thing.  It is certain to be an epic occasion, one to be remembered - and for most likely, much more than just the sky going dark for a couple of minutes.

We have a local website, check it out at Teton 2017 Eclipse 

Just in case you had not heard!!

Western Tanagers Abound

Right now, these sherbet-flavored birds are everywhere!  Although the light was getting dim, under the wet low cloud sky day, I captured a few of these fine feathered specimens.  There have to be over a half dozen different variety of birds at the feeder right now.  Rusty capped finch birds, a bigger finch with a raccoon mask, buntings, grosbeaks, chickadees, and goldfinches.  Add that to a mass of buzzing hummingbirds - well, it's kind of like an outside aviary here right now.  Super cool!!

 

Amusing National Headline

Did you see Jackson made national news today?

Jackson Mayor Makes Bold Move

If this does not work, google "Jackson Mayor national news".

The Joys of Living in the High Mountains...

Official Cherry Tree Planting

There is at least one sour cherry tree planted at Jean Street, in Hoback, and now in Freedom.  It's kind of a Johnny Appleseed kind of thing for me.  My trees in Hoback bloomed like crazy, but sadly, there are very few cherries.  No bees?  Did they get frosted?  Who knows, but it is a huge bummer.  Anyway, the orchard starts at the new place!!

If I had time, and I just don't, I would stich these pictures together and show the view from the small house front yard.  Use your imagination!  Rain predicted up to the weekend - grow, baby seeds - grow!!

Farming

When you are farming, having good luck is not a bad thing.

Not having the right equipment, we hired our neighbor to help get the alfalfa in the ground.  The project started Thursday night.  Neighbor let Mike plant the next day.  He finished up as dark clouds roiled in from the west.  A strong front came through and a beautiful rain fell all night.

Let the seeds germinate!!  We head down there tomorrow to plant a new sour cherry tree and work on some of the zillion things that need to be worked on!

I just ordered Mike's birthday presents.  A weather station you can monitor on your iPhone and a webcam so he can watch the ranch from afar.  All that's needed is wifii for the place!!

The Rumor Proves True

The road is closed.

Indefinitely.  Addie, your drive just got longer.

Here is the release.  More to be found at GTNP's Facebook Page

Raging Rivers

The flood is supposed to crest on Thursday.  Warm temperatures have set this year's high water marks close to record-breaking.  The rivers roil with debris; logs, branches, entire trees go zipping down muddied rivers, tossing about manically.  Some folks are out there on the river.  So far, no river rescues.....  Reservoirs are filling up and water is getting released from dams; often, causing trouble downstream.  A road in Grand Teton Park is rumored close to being washed out.  Everyone is watching. 

Cool weather this weekend will slow the event to normal.  I will be off in Laramie training on Thursday and I will miss the crest.  Bummer.

You can find this interactive map at Click on various places to see flow .